If the swing towards Country Liberal Party points towards a landslide then it could be decided quickly, if not counting will continue to 11pm but preferences could become essential in a number of the 25 seats.
More than 85,000 Territorians cast their vote ahead of Saturday which saw booths slow to a trickle in the afternoon swelter on election day.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler says she is always anxious about winning her seat of Drysdale. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
Chief Minister Eva Lawler had expressed some nerves about her marginal seat of Drysdale but also suggested the slow polling was indication of a change in voter behaviours.
"It's been fairly steady but quieter than I actually thought.." she told AAP.
"I think the voting patterns have changed; people pre-polled, and also people are going to shopping centres rather than the booth at the school..."
The chief minister and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro spent most of the 32C day in the sun at a polling booth on the border of their Palmerston-based electorates.
Ms Finocchiaro said a lot people had "kept their cards close to the chest".
"Certainly a lot of people early voted, so we're seeing smaller numbers come through, but people seem very determined, and we're really hoping, right up until 6pm that people see how important it is to...vote."
Lia Finnochiaro is hoping the CLP has the votes for her to oust Eva Lawler as chief minister. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
Ms Lawler said it had been hard, slogging work since taking the reins of Labor in January.
"I don't think any of my candidates will go to sleep tonight not thinking that they've given it their best shot."
Key issues to emerge during the election campaign include the environment, crime and cost of living.
Voting started slowly in the northern Darwin seat of Fannie Bay but picked up as market-goers collected Saturday breakfast laksas and lodged ballots.
Fewer voters waited until polling day to cast their votes, choosing to pre-poll in high numbers. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
Earlier in the week, Australian National University Professor John Wanna, noted there had been a shift in behaviour with early-career voters increasingly sharing houses and values.
Three who spoke to AAP at Parap Primary school said they all voted Greens because they cared "strongly about the environment".
But their decisions had been influenced by one person in the share house, who they described as "knowing the policies best".
An elderly couple said the economy and environment had also swung their vote towards the minor party.
AAP also spoke to a number of voters concerned about rising rates of property theft in the Northern Territory.
Electoral commission data shows 85,000 of more than 150,000 registered Territorians chose to cast ballots before Saturday.
Key seats in Darwin's northern suburbs have seen a slightly higher pre-poll turnout, including Nightcliff, Fannie Bay and Johnston where there are strong independents vying for office.
However overall pre-poll data is down, indicating there are more people on the electoral roll this year but total turnout could decline.
Environment, crime and cost of living have emerged as key issues for territorians. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)
Since 2023, the electoral commission has significantly increased enrolment in the NT with a nine per cent boost across the roll causing a redistribution of 18 of 25 seats.
Territory electorates consist of just over 6000 voters, often making margins in the 25 seats extremely tight.
Despite Labor's victory in 2020, eight seats recorded majorities under 120 votes and four of them were under 50.
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